'Diners, Drive-ins and Dives' tapes in Phoenix

Perk Restaurant, in north Phoenix, is one area restaurant that will be on Food Network's "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives." (Bob McClay/KTAR)

PHOENIX -- Several Valley restaurants will soon be getting some exposure on national television.

While he was in town to sell his 2013 Corvette 427 at the Barrett-Jackson auction, Chef Guy Fieri took his camera crews around town to tape episodes of his popular "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives" show that airs on the Food Network.

One place that will soon be on television is The Perk Eatery, near 65th street and Greenway road in north Phoenix.

Owner Pauline Thomas-Martinez said she got a call from the Food Network about three weeks ago telling her they wanted to feature her restaurant in an episode. Crews were in the restaurant for about three days, with Fieri showing up for the big taping on Jan. 15.

Thomas-Martinez said she had a blast taping the episode.

"[Fieri] is exactly as rambunctious in person as he seems on TV. He is a really nice guy. The whole crew was really phenomenal to work with. They were all very, very nice to work with. It was a great experience."

Thomas-Martinez described her restaurant as "classic Americana with a little Southwest twist." She whipped up three dishes for the show, but has decided not to reveal exactly what she cooked until the show airs.

"They are dishes that I have featured as specials, and that I don't run full time on the menu," she said. "They are all really great dishes, and I sell them out every time I make them for the restaurant. They are really great."

Thomas-Martinez that the show will drive customers to the restaurant, so she will be serving the dishes when they begin to arrive.

The Scottsdale-based Up Agency is handling Fieri's local media relations. It would not confirm what restaurants were visited by the show, but Thomas-Martinez said that her restaurant was just one of several places where taping occurred.

"From my understanding, I think they went to Curry Corner, which is a Pakastani restaurant in Tempe, they went to Defalco's Italian Grocer, they went to Barrio Café, St. Francis, they did us and they did The Duce [in] downtown [Phoenix]."

Thomas-Martinez said the Food Network has told her that the episode featuring Perk Eatery will air "sometime within the next three to six months."

About the Author

Education: I was born in San
Antonio, Texas, but we moved to Phoenix when
I was one-year-old in 1957. I grew up here
and graduated from Alhambra High School and
attended Phoenix College.

Family: I am married to my wife
Rene', who is a librarian in the Washington
school district. During free time, I may be
found playing basketball in the driveway with
my son, Devin. He's also keeping me busy
with school, Little League, and playing in
chess tournaments around the Valley.

Favorite news memory: We have to go
back to October 15, 1979. I was a country
music air personality at KROP Radio in
Brawley, California, when we had a 6.7
earthquake. Thankfully, there were no deaths
and only minor injuries, but the entire
community was pretty freaked out and
listening to the station on their transistor
radios. I would not want to go through an
earthquake again, but it sure was a great
night to work in radio and see how it can
make a difference in people's lives.

First job: Working as a stringer
for 'The Arizona Republic' at high school
football games. My first real job was
flipping burgers at the old Sandy's
Hamburgers at 51st Avenue and Indian School
Road. My first radio job was as announcer at
KALJ radio in Yuma in 1977.

First concert: Doug Oldham gospel
concert in the 1970s at the old East High
School in Phoenix.

Favorite sports team: Phoenix
Roadrunners minor league hockey. My dad took
me to a game when I was in grade school, and
I was hooked. I wanted to be a radio hockey
play-by-play man. I used to take my cassette
recorder and sit up in the rafters of the
Coliseum and do play-by-play. It was great
later in life to also take my son to
Roadrunners games. Too bad the team just
folded, I'll miss them. (Going to the
Coyotes is fun, but they're not "my" team.)

Outside interests: My family and I
are active in our church - Northern Hills
Community Church in Phoenix. We enjoy going
to movies, sporting events, and like to
vacation at the Beach Cottages in the Pacific
Beach area of San Diego. And I love to play
catch, basketball, football with my son.